University of Saskatchewan:

A brief chronology

A list of some major events and milestones in the history of the University of Saskatchewan.

1907

1908

1909

  • Saskatoon selected as site
  • Board approves purchase of land: 1,170 acres for $112,240.00; 22 April initial sales: 1,300 acres for $147,906.00
  • Board approves appointments of faculty:
  • Selection of [anticipated] colleges made:
    • Arts with Music, Art, and Commerce
    • Agriculture with Forestry and Domestic Science
    • Education
    • Engineering
    • Law
    • Medicine with Pharmacy
    • Dentistry
    • Veterinary Science
  • First examination given: matriculation exam for W.E. Lloyd, 23 September
  • First classes given, 29 September, in the Drinkle Building

1910

1911

1912

  • First class graduates
  • First buildings opened:
    • College [of Agriculture] Building (official opening in May 1913)
    • Emmanuel College
    • University Barn and Livestock Pavilion
    • Dean of Agriculture's Residence, now Faculty Club
    • Saskatchewan Hall
  • The Sheaf publishes first issue
  • Formal opening of Regina College, 14 October

1913

  • President's Residence built

1914-1918

  • At least 27 faculty and staff, 253 students and 65 alumni served during World War I; 1 faculty member and 68 students died

1917

  • Alumni Association formed
  • Summer School established

1918

  • Influenza epidemic: University residences quarantined; Emmanuel College used as emergency hospital by the City; 16 women staff and student volunteer nurses boarded at the President's residence; 2 students, one a volunteer aid, and 4 University employees died

1919

  • Four faculty members dismissed.
  • President Murray takes leave of absence following 1919 crisis; George H. Ling appointed Acting President (August 1919-February 1920)

1920

1921

  • College of Pharmacy established; classes previously given through Arts
  • Department of Ceramic Engineering established--the first in Canada

1925

1926

1927

  • School of Education established

1928

1929

1930

  • Senior faculty at the top of the pay scale receive 2% reduction in salary to accommodate slight increase in salary for junior staff

1930-1933

  • Provincial grant to University reduced by 40%
  • Faculty salaries cut by 19%

1931

1933

  • Unmarried faculty given a year's leave with 3 months pay
  • First University Farm Week hosted by University of Saskatchewan (later Farm and Home Week)

1934

1936

1937

  • J.S. Thomson appointed President

1938

  • School of Nursing established

1939-1945

  • 2500 students enlist for service in World War II; 202 students killed in action
  • Male students in science, engineering, medicine, and agriculture were not allowed to leave their studies without permission

1942

1942-1943

  • President J.S. Thomson on leave to serve as general manager of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation; W.P. Thompson appointed Acting President

1943

  • College of Accounting renamed College of Commerce

1945

1946

  • College of Graduate Studies established
  • First collective agreement with employees reached
  • Faculty Relations Committee formed

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

  • College of Household Science renamed College of Home Economics
  • Faculty Relations Committee renamed Faculty Association
  • First Ph.D. granted

1953

  • School of Medical Sciences becomes College of Medicine

1955

  • [Royal] University Hospital opened, 14 May

1957

1958

  • First full-time student counselling service established

1959

1960

1964

1965

1967

1968

1969

1971

  • Former University of Saskatchewan professor Gerhard Herzberg wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry
  • College of Graduate Studies renamed College of Graduate Studies and Research

1973

1974

1975

1976

  • Native Law Centre established--the first in Canada
  • Joint venture agreement reached between University and SEDCO to build Western Canada's first research park
  • School of Physical Therapy established

1977

1978

  • Administrative and Supervisory Personnel Association granted collective bargaining rights
  • Regional Psychiatric Centre established--first in world to be affiliated with a university

1980

1981

1984

  • Centre for the Study of Cooperatives established--the first in Canada

1988

1989

1990

  • College of Home Economics phased out

1991

  • First collective agreement with CUPE 3287 reached
  • University selected to administer Yeltsin Fellowship Fund

1995

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

  • Special Advisor on Aboriginal Initiatives appointed
  • Unique memorandum of understanding signed with Wanuskewin Heritage Park to develop joint initiatives relating to First Nations awareness and education

2003

  • New Amati Quartet in Residence established
  • University of Saskatchewan starts hosting University of the Arctic's undergraduate studies office

2004

  • "Campus Vets," featuring students, faculty and staff at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, airs on the Life Network
  • Canadian Light Source synchrotron officially opens

2005

  • College Building rededicated after extensive heritage conservation project
  • College of Emmanuel and St. Chad moves to Lutheran Theological Seminary building
  • Dean of University Library appointed -- the first appointment of its kind in Canada

2006

  • College of Agriculture renamed College of Agriculture and Bioresources
  • University hosts Vanier Cup -- the first time the national football championship is held outside Ontario

2007

  • Extension Division disbanded
  • School of Environment and Sustainability, School of Public Health, and School of Public Policy approved
  • Cupe Local 1975 goes on strike

2009

  • The role of Visitor (held by the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan) is removed by the amendments to University of Saskatchewan Act

2010

  • The University’s Learning Charter is created, the first document of its kind in Canada to clearly outline the responsibilities of students, instructors and institution
  • With approval from the Academic Programs Committee of Council, the College of Law bestowes Juris Doctor degrees on its graduates instead of Bachelors of Law going forward

2011

  • Global Institute for Water Security established

2012

  • Ilene Busch-Vishniac is appointed USask president -- the first woman in the role
  • Activity at Kenderdine Campus (Emma Lake) suspended
  • Global Institute for Food Security established

2013

  • Completion of the College Quarter residences in the Varsity View neighbourhood (opened in three phases between 2011-2013), including four new undergraduate residences and Graduate House

2014

  • Gordon Barnhart is appointed interim president

2015

  • Peter Stoicheff is appointed president of the University of Saskatchewan

2016

2020

  • The Covid-19 pandemic send staff, students, and faculty home and university buildings are closed. Classes are disrupted, eventually going virtual. Staff and faculty work from home. Towards the end of the year a hybrid approach to classes is initiated, and masking is mandetory on campus
  • In person spring convocation is cancelled, though degrees are still conferred, and fall convocation is held virtually

2021

  • USask institutes the requirement that proof of at least one dose of approved Covid-19 vaccination be submitted before coming on to campus
  • VIDO recieves $59.2 million in funding from the federal government to support the development of vaccines and the expansion of its facilities

2022

  • Classes return to on-campus delivery
  • Mask and vaccine mandate is lifted